Staying Alive: the HIV Testing Diaries
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Why you should get tested

It seems rather obvious that you should get tested so that you know your status and take control of your life, sexually and otherwise. Yet millions of people are unaware of their HIV status.

Globally, 90% of people infected with HIV are unaware that they are carrying the virus.

Some people are reluctant to get tested because they don't think they are at risk. The truth of the matter is that you may think you're not at risk, but how can you be 100% sure? (Ok if you've never had sex, never had a blood transfusion, never shared needles, maybe you can be 100% sure.) Ask yourself; have you ever had unprotected sex with someone whose sexual history you don't know? Have you ever shared needles? Why not take our test to see how at risk you really are.

Other people are reluctant to take an HIV test because they are scared of what the result may be. Testing positive is no longer a death sentence. Lots of people live many years infected with HIV, leading healthy, productive lives with their family and friends. In many countries people can access treatment to prolong their lives. But even without treatment you can still stay healthy.

So how can you afford not to know your HIV status? If you test negative you can learn how to stay negative. If you test positive, you can begin to take steps to ensure your lifestyle keeps you healthy, and you can also prevent yourself infecting other people.

If you are sexually active and/or share needles, testing for HIV should be part of your routine sexual health screening. Only you are responsible for your life.

Types of tests

The most common type of test is the antibody test, also known as the ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) test. This test looks for antibodies in a person's blood. When HIV enters the body, special proteins called antibodies are produced. Antibodies are the body's response to an infection. Most people develop antibodies that can be detected within six to 12 weeks after infection. In very rare cases, it can take up to six months. If you test before three months after infection it may result in unclear test results, as the body may not have developed antibodies to HIV. This period is called the window period. But during this period, someone can still transmit HIV to another person.

In some countries the ELISA test will give you your results in about one to two weeks. More and more countries are using the rapid test. It's still an ELISA test on your blood, but the results are given in about 10 minutes - however your results are usually given in 30 minutes so that the test can be verified.

Oral tests can also provide accurate HIV results. The inside of a person's mouth is swabbed and then tested for antibodies.

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